Monday, February 3, 2014

Interview with Author J.L. Campbell

Happy Monday, everyone! I know some of us are covered in snow yet again, and yesterday's Groundhog's Day forecast called for more winter, but it's a fabulous Monday because award winning author J.L. Campbell is here and I'm hoping she brought some warm, Jamaican sunshine with her :). Joy is both a talented writer and beautiful person. Whether she's writing suspense/adventures, women's fiction, young adult or romance, she brings Jamaica to life with vibrant, and sometimes heartbreaking, authenticity. I'm not at all surprised that Joy's middle grade novel, Christine's Odyssey, was awarded the 2008 bronze medal for creative writing in YA by the Jamaican Cultural Development Commission. Her latest romance, Chasing Anya, just released in January. Congrats and welcome, Joy!

Rula: It's such a thrill to have you here, Joy. You're holiday novella, Anya's Wish,
was a prequel to Chasing Anya, book 1 in your romantic Island Adventure Series. Once again, in this series as with
your other books, you transport readers to Jamaica, but what's fascinating is
that in each genre you write--whether middle grade, romance or adventure--we
get to experience a completely different side of Jamaican society, including
economic status and lifestyle. Which, if any, did you find to be the most
rewarding to write and share with readers?

Joy: Thanks for
having me, Rula. It’s a pleasure to be here. One of the good things about being
a writer is that I get to share my island home with the world. Jamaica is a
character in each story, which allows me to give readers an inside view. I think
readers get an unspoiled and wondrous view through the eyes of a child and the
middle-grade series has allowed me to do that.

Rula: Absolutely. I'm a huge
fan of your middle grade Simms Siblings series. Both Christine's Odyssey and
Saving Sam were poignant stories that had me by the heart. I fought tears in
every chapter and every page made me want to go give my own children hugs. The
setting was vibrant and beautifully authentic, the psychology of the child
characters heart wrenching and real...and the writing style deliciously skilled
and organic. What was writing from the perspective of a traumatized child like
and what, if any, research has gone into these books?

Joy: Christine’s Odyssey was the first novel I wrote and it
took a nine-year route to publication. As I've grown as a writer, my stories
have evolved. That novel came out of a conversation I had with a friend whose
brother had died and she was given care of his daughter. My mind went into
‘what if’ mode and the story grew from there. My research came at the back end,
in that after I’d written the story, I contacted a guidance counselor, lawyer,
police officer, doctor and social worker. These conversations, along with research,
took care of fact checking and getting accurate information on things such as physical
injuries to the local legal system.

Rula:I really
enjoyed the blog posts you've done introducing various Jamaican foods and
facts. From the boiled green bananas in Christine's Odyssey to the fried
plantain chips Anya snacks on, to all the tropical ice cream the Simms siblings
savor on hot Jamaican days...it all makes me hungry. What's your favorite
Jamaican dish and is there a particular snack you reach for when writing?

Joy: The national
dish Ackee & Saltfish (cod fish) with fried dumplings hits the spot for m every
time. If I have to eat when I’m writing, I like banana chips. They’re made from
sliced green bananas.

Rula:Mmm. You're making me hungry. I've been
following your journey as an Indie author for awhile and I'm so impressed with
how prolific you are. The writing experiences you've shared on your blog, The
Character Depot, have been inspiring and invaluable. How have you managed to
find that illusive balance between promotion, social media, magazine articles,
family and actual writing time?

Joy:Rula, much
to my distress, I haven’t really found a balance, but writing things down helps
tremendously. I've come to realize that there will never be enough time to do
all that’s required, especially since I decided to self publish. Since I don’t
make enough time for social media interaction, I take advantage of author
sponsored group promotions.

Something
else that has helped me is that before I was published, I had more than six
stories already written. This meant that when I was eventually published, I was
adding more books to those I had already written. This is one of the best forms
of promotion a writer can utilize. In looking at my books on Amazon, I can tell
that people who read them tend to buy others that I've written.

I've accepted the fact that I’ll also never have enough time to write, so I've learned to make the most of those periods when my stories are flowing. My
family is supportive, which makes this journey a lot easier.

Rula: Is there anything you would have done differently along the way or any tips (or warnings) you have for writers considering Indie publishing (or publishing in general)?

Joy:I’d just
caution writers to study the business of publishing before jumping off. I was
caught flat-footed when I was first published because I didn't understand that
I was expected to do a huge chunk of marketing. There is so much information
online that there’s no excuse not to know what’s happening in publishing today.
Alex Cavanaugh’s brainchild, the Insecure Writer’s Support Group, is an excellent starting point for
anyone who wants to make their writing a business. It also serves the needs of
anybody who wants to know what’s new in the world of publishing.

My best
piece of advice is to study the craft of writing. There’s nothing better that a
writer can do to improve his/her skills. Just like anything else we’re serious
about, we all have to put in a period of apprenticeship.

Rula:March
will bring the release of Taming Celeste, book 2 in your Island Adventure
Series, and readers are also looking forward to the third book in your Simms
Sibling series. It's going to be a busy year for you! Can you give readers a
hint at what they'll find in these two books?

Joy: Celeste is a
firebrand and that quality will land her in trouble. Her story is even more
exciting than Anya’s as she accidentally gets in the middle of a software
piracy deal that turns her into a target. What made this story more interesting
to write is that Celeste’s love interest is Mark, the troublesome cousin from the
book Contraband. In For Love of Cass & Jamie, the girls
come under threat when their adoptive parents face trouble in their marriage.
The sisters deal with their problems in different ways and sadly, one of them
becomes bulimic. All I’ll say is that they’re kids and deserve a happy ending.

Rula:I can't wait for those releases. Books are
a formidable way to raise awareness and battle ignorance. This is in part
because books are a universal transport system. Anywhere you want to go. Any
adventure, culture or way of life you want to experience. Books connect people
in so many ways. You've done a brilliant job bringing Jamaica to life for those
who haven't been able to visit (it's one of my dream destinations...one of
these days!). If you could hop on a plane right now (no deadlines to worry
about ;) and visit any place on earth, where would you go? Was this choice
inspired by a book you read? :)

Joy:I agree with you
there, Rula. I've been to many places complements of books. I’d love to visit
Egypt and incidentally, some of my fascination with that land was inspired by
Mark Twain’s adventures.

Thanks so much
for having me, Rula. It’s been fun.

Rula: It has been great having you here! Thanks for hanging out with us today!

BLURB: Chasing Anya (w/a Jayda McTyson)

Been there. Done that.

Feisty and independent, Anya Davies lives by her own rules. The one thing she's hell-bent on avoiding is a conventional relationship, thanks to her abusive ex who refuses to stay in the past. As far as she's concerned, romance is a no-no.

The second complication in her life is a secret that condemns her to constant guilt and a solitary life. A series of near misses and escalating threats are a third and worrying factor. Only a special man would understand or live with Anya's challenges and demands.Casual sex...so not having that.

Enter Christophe Mondesir. Two years ago, Anya dumped him without explanation. An accidental meeting shoots Anya back on Christophe's radar. He refuses to be denied and plans to breach the fortress Anya has built around her heart--if she'll commit to more than a casual liaison. He's also determined to find out what she's hiding. That's if the stalker who's after Anya doesn't end her life first.

Excellent interview. I could tell (having spent 23 years working with abused, neglected kids) that Joy had done her homework. Unfortunately, the stories of the Simms siblings are reality based scenarios. But writing about them helps to educate people and bring those dark stories into the light.

Fellow banana chips fan! I also love strawberry butterkist biscuits as well. Easy to carry and eat. Balance? Ha, I just have to do my best and get things done. I can barely keep a normal sleep cycle much less balance all the writing, social media...zzzzz

This was a nice interview and I can't wait to see what else you'll write J.L. Thank you for making our beloved Jamaica center stage in your books.

You're so welcome, Wendy. Joy is awesome and it was totally my pleasure and an honor to have her here. I've been wanting to interview her for quite some time, but I had to catch up on my TBR because I always read an author's books before I interview. So glad I did. Joy is an amazing writer.

About Me

I'm a contemporary romance author and compulsive reader of both fiction and non-fiction. Romances of any genre top my list of favorite things, along with coffee, chocolate, organic gardening, wildlife (including bugs and reptiles), a quiet beach full of shells, and my family.

Find me on Goodreads!

What's the rush?

I'm not talking about the rush to get published or the rush to meet deadlines, although I dig the multi meaning. I get antsy when life keeps me away from my story, and I get a thrill out of finishing a chapter, conquering a revision, or riding toward the black moment with my hero and heroine. It's an addiction equivalent to a runner's high. That's what I call a writer's rush.

And when a story can transform a writer's rush into a reader's rush...that's the most exhilarating rush of all.

Fall down seven times, stand up eight.

- Japanese proverb

Favorite Craft Books

Plot & Structure by James Scott Bell

GMC: Goal, Motivation & Conflict by Debra Dixon

Manuscript Makeover by Elizabeth Lyon

Writing a Romance Novel for Dummies by Leslie Wainger

Save the Cat! by Blake Snyder

The Virgin Widow's Heart Stopped When She Saw The Book That Would Change Her Life Forever by Ellen Hartman and Sophie Gunn